As I write this post it is International Women’s Day, an occasion that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. In honor of this, my weekly thought is inspired by feminine energy, that force that is described in the Hindu context of Adya or Adi Shakti, literally translated as primal energy. She is the power or energy infusing the whole of existence, in other words, she is not only powerful but power itself.
About 10 years ago I was attending a yoga event in which a couple of esteemed yoga teachers were talking about shifting our collective energy toward the feminine. It felt like a desperate cry to action as our planet has seen various states of conflict over the past few thousand years. This energy, which is driven by the masculine, has led to conflict and degradation of our planet and the yogis felt if there was not a big shift, we would eventually, not only destroy the planet but all species living upon it. They felt that the platform of yoga, based on non-violence, was a key player in creating this shift. And here we are 10 years later where the female voice has gained volume and attention with the #metoo and other socially active movements. Perhaps the shift is well underway and when things change, friction can occur so it may be a rocky ride for some time to come.
All the more reason to cultivate our connection to feminine energy. But what exactly is it? In yoga we have coexisting energies of masculine and feminine, often referred to as Shiva/Shakti. The left side of the body, including the left nostril, is the feminine side, controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain. Its qualities are expansive and spacious, based on compassion, collaboration, community, and connection. It’s associated with the energy of the moon and has the quality of coolness and the reflection of light.
The right side of the body (including the right nostril) is guided by masculine energy, controlled by the left side of the brain. It’s linear, analytical, process-oriented and governed by the energy of the sun. These two energies need each other to bring to life all that is possible and, hopefully in the process, manifesting a balanced and harmonious energy.
In order to cultivate a personal connection to the feminine, cultures have offered us many archetypes of the Divine form. Hindu culture has a pantheon of goddesses with Adi Shakti manifesting in the powerful form of Durga (and so many more); Buddhists teaching embodies Kuan Yin, the form that absorbs suffering of all beings; the Christian lens offers Mother Mary and Our Lady of Guadalupe; and on it goes through Native American White Buffalo Calf Woman, to the personification of the goddesses of Greek, Egyptian, and Celtic cultures. No matter which type we gravitate toward, the point is that the ideal feminine has taken form for thousands of years and connecting to her energy can be a powerful reminder for our individual spiritual awakening.
Feminine energy isn’t gender specific. When I think about compassion, His Holiness the Dalai Lama immediately comes to mind as a living being that, when asked what his religion is, he replies “My religion is compassion.” He embodies what it means to be fully immersed in the energy of the feminine. So, as we spend time in our own contemplation we can think about what image or action connects us to our deepest and kindest selves. When we listen deeply, offer a space for others to show vulnerability, let go of judgment, pay attention to our intuition and offer forgiveness, we are tapping deeply into the energetic channel of the feminine.
Everyone has the potential to find and create this balance within themselves. My hope is that we can raise our voices, disrupting long-held patterns and beliefs, through the feminine part of our being and avoid the feeling that we need to create change by repeating the more masculine inspired route.
May all beings find peace and ease. And may all beings find their voices in the most fierce and heart-centric way possible.
